Postmastectomy electron-beam chest-wall irradiation in women with breast cancer

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2004 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2004.05.036· OSTI ID:20630959

Gez, Eliahu ^[1]; Ashaf, Nurit ^[1]; Bar-Deroma, Rachel ^[1]; Rosenblatt, Edward ^[1]; Kuten, Abraham ^[1]

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1. Department of Oncology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa (Israel)

Purpose: This retrospective study evaluates the results of postmastectomy electron-beam chest-wall irradiation in patients with breast cancer. Methods and materials: From 1980 to 1994, 144 women with localized breast cancer received postmastectomy radiotherapy. The chest wall was irradiated by electron beam, 6 to 12 MeV energy, depending on wall thickness, 2.0 Gy daily, 5 times/week for total dose of 50 Gy. Forty-one patients received 16-Gy boosts to the mastectomy scar. In addition, the supraclavicular and axilla areas were irradiated by anterior field with 6-MV photon beam. Results: Median follow-up was 84 months. Fifteen patients (10%) had local-regional recurrence (LRR) and 57 patients (40%) had systemic relapse (SR). Median time from mastectomy to LRR was 20 months and median time to SR was 33 months. Axillary lymph nodes status influenced both LRR and SR. LRR rate was 0% in N0 and 12% in N1 disease; SR rate was 14% in N0 and 45% in N1 disease. Disease-free and overall survival was 58% and 67% in 10 years and 50% and 55% in 20 years, respectively. No cardiac toxicity was related to left chest-wall irradiation. Conclusion: Postmastectomy electron-beam chest-wall irradiation is as effective as photon-beam irradiation in breast cancer.

• OSTI ID: 20630959
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 60; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CARCINOMAS
CHEST
ELECTRON BEAMS
IRRADIATION
LYMPH NODES
MAMMARY GLANDS
MEV RANGE 01-10
MEV RANGE 10-100
PATIENTS
PHOTON BEAMS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOTHERAPY
TOXICITY